Humbertochloa

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 50–72.5–100 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades elliptic (1), or ovate (1). Leaf-blade venation with obscure cross veins.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious. Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; in a unilateral false spike; appressed; lanceolate; bearing 1 spikelet. Central inflorescence axis foliaceous; tip subulate. Rhachis deciduous from axis; broadly winged; terminating in a barren extension; extension flattened.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; gibbous; 8–9.5–11 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume subulate. Lower glume surface without pits. Upper glume oblong; 0.33 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; coriaceous; 13–17 -veined; obtuse. Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; chartaceous; wingless; 7–11 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea chartaceous; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 4 (1), or 5, or 6 (1).

MALE Male inflorescence terminal; similar to female; of racemes along a central axis. Male spikelets similar to female but less developed. Male spikelet glumes 2.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.